Nathan Ellis believes Australia’s upcoming ODI assignments will provide valuable preparation for their 2027 World Cup title defence.
Australia are already looking ahead to the 2027 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, and fast bowler Nathan Ellis says the team is treating its upcoming ODI assignments as an important part of the preparation process. Australia will face Zimbabwe and South Africa in a series of six 50-over matches as they begin building towards next year’s tournament.
Ellis is currently with Australia in Harare ahead of the three-match ODI series against Zimbabwe. The first match is scheduled for September 15, followed by games on September 18 and September 20. Australia will then travel to South Africa for another three-match ODI series later in the month.
The fast bowler believes these matches provide Australia with an opportunity to gather information about conditions that could become relevant during the World Cup. The 2027 tournament will be co-hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia, making the upcoming fixtures particularly useful for the defending champions.
Ellis described the six matches as a valuable opportunity for Australia to understand what works and what does not work before the World Cup. The team can use the series to assess combinations, bowling plans and playing conditions while also giving several players an opportunity to push for selection.
For Ellis personally, the upcoming matches are also important because he wants to secure his place in Australia’s final World Cup squad. The fast bowler missed Australia’s successful 2023 50-over World Cup campaign because of injury, but has since become an important part of the country’s white-ball setup.
Australia will also have plenty of motivation against Zimbabwe. The African side produced a surprise victory over Australia during the 2026 T20 World Cup, giving the upcoming ODI series an additional competitive edge. Ellis acknowledged that Australia will be looking for a response while also using the matches to build towards the larger goal of defending their World Cup crown.
With the 2027 World Cup approaching, Australia have plenty of time to assess their options. However, the upcoming fixtures are an important opportunity to establish a strong foundation. Ellis and his teammates will be hoping the lessons learned in Zimbabwe and South Africa can help Australia arrive at the World Cup fully prepared to defend their title.
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